Fontana di Trevi by Nicola Salvi, Giuseppe PanniniYouth Committee of the Italian National Commission for UNESCO
A gift to the city from the Pope
The fountain as we know it today was completed in the 18th century. Pope Clement XII wanted to gift the city with a monumental fountain, so he launched a public competition to find an architect; Nicola Salvi won, and it took him almost 30 years of work to complete his late baroque masterpiece, a triumph of marble and zealous sculptures.
But a fountain had already been there for a long time. In fact, the Trevi Fountain was first built during the Roman times as the hub of the city’s water system. It was meant to grant citizens access to a source of prime quality water. The fountain was located (as it is today) at the intersection between three roads (‘tre vie’): that explains the name ‘Trevi.’
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“Trevi”: At the crossroad of three streets
Back then, it looked much more modest that it does now: it was a fountain with three separate basins, where passersby could drink, wash and find solace. The fountain was the final destination of the Virgin Aqueduct, the only Roman aqueduct that still works today, after more than 2000 years since it was built.
Rome was the first city to introduce the idea of fountains with free, drinkable water, and to this day it still is the city with the highest concentration of drinking fountains in the world.
The Grand Tour of Italy - RomaYouth Committee of the Italian National Commission for UNESCO
Floating School (1968-11-20) by Loomis DeanLIFE Photo Collection
By Carl MydansLIFE Photo Collection
More than 2500 “Nasoni”
There are more than 2,500 ‘nasoni’ (big noses) across Rome and the traditional water fountains are often dubbed “democratic” as they can be found everywhere.
Fontana del Tritone by Gian Lorenzo BerniniYouth Committee of the Italian National Commission for UNESCO
The Fountain of the Triton and other masterpieces
Besides, many others beautiful fountains can be found everywhere across the city. See here for example the Fountain of the Triton.
Fontana delle Api by Gian Lorenzo BerniniYouth Committee of the Italian National Commission for UNESCO
Fontana della Barcaccia by Pietro BerniniYouth Committee of the Italian National Commission for UNESCO
Fontana dei LeoniYouth Committee of the Italian National Commission for UNESCO
Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (1648/1651) by Gian Lorenzo BerniniYouth Committee of the Italian National Commission for UNESCO
Fontana di Trevi by Nicola Salvi, Giuseppe PanniniYouth Committee of the Italian National Commission for UNESCO
A reference standard
Roman aqueducts remain a standard for modern day water supply systems.
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Undefeated solidity and functionality
This both from a durability and functionality standpoint. One one hand, most aqueducts built today will last more or less 50 years, the ones in Rome are still working after more than 2000 years. On the other, they are an engineering model around the world for their capacity of bringing water in deserted and arid areas, such as the deserts of Israel.
Exhibition edited by Youth Committee of the Italian Commission for UNESCO - Lazio: Antonio Geracitano, Marco Anzellotti, Vittoria Azzarita, Andrea Bangrazi, Ilaria Cacciotti, Francesca Candelini, Giovanni Cedrone, Carlotta Destro, Caterina Francesca Di Giovanni, Alessandra Feola, Paolo Ianniccari, Marta Lelli, Laura Leopardi, Ginevra Odone, Dario Saltari, Paolo Scipioni.
Youth Committee of the Italian National Commission for UNESCO
